Detailed plans for Cornwall's £16 million sports stadium submitted

A detailed planning application has been submitted for Cornwall's £16.5 million landmark sports stadium.

The planned 10,000-seater venue, at Threemilestone, near Truro, would become the permanent home of the Cornish Pirates rugby team.

Outline planning permission for the site at Langarth Farm was granted this time last year, and designs for the stadium were first unveiled by the Western Morning News in November.

Cornwall Community Stadium Limited, a consortium of the Inox Group, Truro and Penwith College, and the rugby club, have now submitted detailed plans which are available to view on Cornwall Council's website.

Under the revised plans, community space and the Cornwall Sporting Hall of Fame planned for the west stand have been axed.

Seats in the west stand would be increased, but reduced in the three other sides, keeping the overall capacity at 10,000.

Commercial areas have also been scaled back into two of the stands. Truro and Penwith College's needs have been met on a new third floor of the west stand.

Supporting documents to the application describe the stadium as a "high quality and landmark sports facility which is appropriately sympathetic to the landscape setting of the site".

It says: "The Cornish Pirates will be the anchor tenants for the stadium with the facilities also widely available to Truro and Penwith College for sports, teaching purposes and other hosting events. There also remains potential for Truro City Football Club to utilise the stadium facilities in due course."

It adds: "The proposed stadium remains a facility with a 10,000 capacity and a state-of-the-art playing pitch. The proposal includes ancillary commercial facilities including dual function spaces for conferencing/exhibiting and corporate hospitality for match days. This ensures the stadium has a weekday use as well as match days."

The concept has received widespread support in Cornwall but caused ructions within the county council. Former leader Alec Robertson had backed public investment in the project, but walked away after major opposition.

The Cornish Pirates have repeated their commitment to the project despite planning major improvements to their ground in Penzance.

The new venue is part of a "stadium village" plan which also includes 1,500 homes which was narrowly approved by councillors in May.